Alabama school board member Mary Scott Hunter to jump out of plane to help fight genetic disorder

What good is it to have a public profile if you don't do good things with it?

View full sizeAlabama school board member Mary Scott Hunter said Monday she was jumping out of a plane as part of a fundraiser for CDKL5, a rare genetic disorder. (AL.com file photo)

Alabama school board member Mary Scott Hunter is jumping out of a plane.

And it's not for the thrill of the experience.

Hunter, a Huntsville businesswoman, joined an effort Monday to bring awareness and raise $50,000 for CDKL5 – a rare genetic disorder – as part of a fundraiser started by the father of the girl whose name is on Carly's Law, which authorizes a study of a marijuana-derived medicine for treating seizures in Alabama.

"What good is it to have a public profile if you don't do good things with it?" Hunter said.

Again, though, it's not for the thrill.

"It was not on my bucket list," said Hunter, who said she has never jumped before.

The event is set for Sept. 27 at Cullman Regional Airport and is scheduled to include CDKL5 families from coast-to-coast, according to Dustin Chandler, Carly's father. Families from California, Connecticut, Wisconsin and two from Arizona are also planning to be a part of the jump.

More than $5,500 has been raised toward the $50,000 goal, according to the You Caring website where contributions can be made. And Chandler said the total, including personal checks, has topped $10,500

It's the second year for the jump but Chandler said this jump is getting more attention. He said Hunter's commitment gave the event a surge of momentum. Pelham Mayor Gary Waters and Pelham Councilman Ron Scott are also on board with the jump.

Chandler said today that Gary Palmer, who won the Republican nomination for the 6th Congressional District earlier this month, vowed to jump as well if $5,000 is contributed to the cause.

"To show the courage that these kids go through who are dealing and their parents, I'm willing to jump out of a plane," Chandler said.

So is Hunter, whose husband Jon Schultz is currently deployed to Afghanistan and has made dozens of jumps in his military career.

"I just want to help," she said. "It touched me. I think that can help and I'm going to use my platform to do it."

Hunter made "the big reveal" today on the Matt Murphy show on Birmingham's WAPI radio. Her husband even called into the show from Afghanistan and "gave us some tips." Murphy has also agreed to be part of the jump.

With a husband for whom jumps are routine, though, has not made it easier for Hunter to build her courage.

"I don't get a lot of sympathy on the home front," she said with a laugh.

Updated today, July 28, 2014 at 4:40 p.m. with additional information on money raised so far.